Portland Winterhawks/Keith Dwiggins

Portland sweeps season series with Prince George

For the fourth, and final time this season, the Prince George Cougars (6-20-1-2) dropped the puck against the Portland Winterhawks (20-6-1-2). 

Sunday marked the conclusion of a rare scheduling quirk with four-straight games against each other for the two teams. 

Portland emerged with a 4-1 victory and a four-game series sweep over Prince George. 

“It is very unusual to play a four-game series against the same team,” Winterhawks vice president, general manager, and head coach Mike Johnston said. “They are a tough team to play against, they play a hard, physical game, a north/south game, play with some speed. I was really proud of our guys. We’ve had some injuries again to deal with – (Cross) Hanas, (Matthew) Quigley, and (Kishaun) Gervais – tonight in the game. Once again, a lot of young guys playing big minutes.” 

Joel Hofer started all four games against the Cougars and stopped 100-of-105 shots he saw over the six days. 

Many thought Sunday may be a night backup goaltender Isaiah DiLaura may make his fourth appearance of the season. Instead Johnston decided to continue starting Hofer before he leaves to attend Hockey Canada’s Selection Camp. 

Joel Hofer (Photo- Brett Cullen)

Johnston said of his decision to start Hofer instead of DiLaura, “We talked about it, and thought about that. (Hofer) has been in a groove, we really think he is playing well in the groove, rather than giving him a day off, we thought we would keep him in the groove. He heads off on a positive note, had a shutout (Saturday) night, and tonight played really well. He got his 20th win of the year. Some of those small accomplishments are really good. Now he will go to Team Canada. If he doesn’t make it, he gets a lot of rest. If he does make it, and is their starter, then it is going to be a heavy workload. He might be the backup there, you never know what will happen. I hope he makes it, and I think he will.” 

While Johnston hopes Hofer makes Team Canada he pointed out, “I don’t know any of the other goaltenders in Canada’s (camp). I don’t really know how he compares that way. I think he is one of the best goalies in Canada, but haven’t seen the other guys.” 

Winterhawks forward Seth Jarvis, who scored the empty-net goal to guarantee Portland’s victory, commented on Hofer as well, “Playing four games against Prince George is pretty weird, I don’t think anyone has ever done that in this room. I think Joel kept us in it for a little bit there, but we came out with the win. We treated it like a playoff series. Coming into the game we just realized we could close it out 4-0 and think we all played a good game.” 

Jarvis, who had three goals and three assists, was one of five Portland skaters to register at least five points in the four games against Prince George. Johnny Ludvig (5), Reece Newkirk (5), Jake Gricius (5), and Robbie Fromm-Delorme (6) were the others. 

In his six games back since returning from an upper-body injury, 17-year-old Robbie Fromm-Delorme has seven points. “Coming back from an injury is tough, but you just can’t worry about it, especially not be point focused. I just wanted to go out there and play my game. I think that is how everyone’s mindset should be when you come back from an injury.” 

He scored the eventual game-winning goal on Sunday night, but gave all the credit to Reece Newkirk, “It wasn’t really anything special. Reece made a really, really nice play to me from down low. I was just able to bang it in, props to him, mostly all on him for holding onto the puck down low there.” 

Josh Maser (Photo- Portland Winterhawks/Donovan MacGowan)

After Johnny Ludvig opened the scoring just shy of halfway through the first period, Prince George tied the game early in the second frame. Josh Maser deflected Cole Moberg’s point shot by Hofer for his team leading 13th goal of the season. 

Fromm-Delorme responded with his goal about six minutes later. Jaydon Dureau, Jake Gricius, and Seth Jarvis combined for a power-play goal shortly after the media timeout. 

Portland entered the zone with speed and Dureau scored on a wrist shot off the rush. “With Dureau and me back there speed is a big part of our game,” Jarvis said. “I think getting it back to us where we can wind up and take on flat-footed defenders opens up holes and makes it easier to break into the zone.” 

Prince George pushed hard in the third period trying to tie the game and out shot Portland 9-7; however, they were unable to get any closer than two goals as Hofer shut the door. 

The Cougars return home for two games against Victoria starting on Friday. 

Before Portland turns the page to their next portion of the 2019-2020 schedule, Johnston was impressed with his team’s last six games, “I think coming out of the two Kamloops games and the four Prince George games with five wins was a real credit to our group; that is outstanding.” 

Portland now shifts their focus to the U.S. Division where they will play their next nine games. 

Robbie Fromm-Delorme (Photo- Portland Winterhawks/Keith Dwiggins)

Fromm-Delorme talked about how the mentality changes with more familiar teams coming up on the schedule, “We are going to play teams we know a lot more, and the same way around with them knowing how we are. I feel like the next stretch of games are going to be really close. I think we just have to be focused on competing and getting pucks to the net.” 

Jarvis commented on how tight the division has been so far, Portland and Everett are tied at the top with 43 points. “It is a tight race so far in the division, so going into games trying to get a win and play our style is key, grabbing every point we can. It will be a perk if we can get them to adjust to us.” 

One area of focus for Portland will be their injury status. With Matthew Quigley injured, and Jonas Brøndberg representing Team Denmark, Mike Johnston played 20-year-old forward Lane Gilliss on defense. “He did that once in Vancouver for a period,” Jarvis explained. “Watching him back there was a little bit weird. He adjusted well, he’s a great player. I think it was a little bit strange, but he did a good job. We call him a Swiss-army knife as he is good in all situations and you saw that again tonight.” 

Johnston gave a slight update on injuries saying Quigley, “wasn’t anything serious, but I think he will be okay, but it could linger.” His status report on Kishaun Gervais was, “He got hit into the boards pretty hard. I think there are some minor concussion symptoms right now.” Johnston concluded with an update on Cross Hanas, “He is still day-to-day. We thought he might play this weekend. He had trouble in Prince George, came out of the game the one day he was dressed, came out after two shifts.” 

While Hofer is away, Portland is calling up 17-year-old goalie Dante Giannuzzi who arrives on Wednesday. Joining him will be signed 15-year-olds Kyle Chyzowski and Ryder Thompson. Johnston mentioned that “both will be in this week practicing with us. We will see what our depth is like for next weekend. I don’t know if they will get into the games, but you never know.” 

Seth Jarvis (Photo- Portland Winterhawks/Keith Dwiggins)

The Winterhawks have a three-in-three starting on Friday in a one vs two showdown with the Everett Silvertips on Friday. Portland then travels to Kennewick to face the Tri-City Americans in their Teddy Bear Toss. The weekend concludes with the new look Seattle Thunderbirds coming to town. Over the weekend they traded their captain Matthew Wedman to the Kelowna Rockets and acquired Max Patterson from the Everett Silvertips in a related move. 

Johnston said, “I think our older players, Gilliss playing defense which is a real good example, have definitely stepped up. It is a real positive sign. For me, I still know our fate lies with our young guys. If our young guys improve enough, we are going to be good. If they don’t, then we won’t be good. We have to get them better, fast.”

With at least three key players out trying to earn roster spots to represent their countries – Joel Hofer, Simon Knak, Jonas Brøndberg – Portland will be relying on their younger players even more.